Internal Communication Systems that foster employee engagement and motivation This post is the result of a brainstorming session with Amy Kehs, an expert in museum communications. Amy and I met at the 2025 Small Museums Association Conference, and started a conversation about internal communications, and how a focus on improving these can help museums shine.Continue reading “A Gathering and a Pause”
Category Archives: Museum Administration
What Can Museums Learn from a Fortune 5 Company’s Culture Strategy?
A few months ago I had the opportunity to interview an industrial psychologist from a Fortune 5 company with hundreds of thousands of employees. Due to the company’s internal regulations, I cannot share the interview itself, or the name of the company or employee. However, here are ten takeaways from this individual’s experience leading aContinue reading “What Can Museums Learn from a Fortune 5 Company’s Culture Strategy?”
Why is self-awareness an essential leadership skill?
This post is by Jennifer DePrizio. Jenn has worked in art museums across the country for more than twenty years, leading audience-centered program development and interpretive strategies that are grounded in the belief that art helps people better understand themselves and others. She has held leadership positions at the Cleveland Museum of Art, Portland MuseumContinue reading “Why is self-awareness an essential leadership skill?”
How can different groups in the museum agree on impact?
This post is by Robert Weisberg, the author of the blog Museum Human. I have had the pleasure of talking to Rob about museums, museum problems, and how we can do better. Last week, he shared my post on “Museums as Workplace Communities” on Museum Human. A little more about Rob: Robert J Weisberg (he/him/his)Continue reading “How can different groups in the museum agree on impact?”
What is Burnout? A Conversation with Mike Murawski
Last week I had the pleasure of talking to Mike Murawski about burnout for his Agents of Change conversation series. You can listen to our conversation here. We came together to talk about burnout because it’s such a pressing topic in museums right now. I hope my previous post on burnout, along with Mike’s interview,Continue reading “What is Burnout? A Conversation with Mike Murawski”
What Is “Burnout”?
Burnout was a hot topic in 2023. Attention to burnout was prompted by COVID-19, which made nearly everybody’s life more complicated and difficult, and post-COVID changes to the work environment and feelings about work. But even before 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) included burnout in it’s 2019 revision of “International Classification of Diseases.” And, furtherContinue reading “What Is “Burnout”?”
How can museums measure social impact? Interview with Johanna Jones
Johanna Jones is the Director of Evaluation and Visitor Insights at the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA). Johanna leads the Museum’s audience research, evaluation, and social impact measurement work. Before joining OMCA in 2016, Johanna was an evaluation consultant for 20 years. In 2020, you wrote about the work OMCA has been doing to evaluateContinue reading “How can museums measure social impact? Interview with Johanna Jones”
What are alternatives to traditional strategic planning?
The other day I mentioned strategic planning to a colleague, and got an eye roll in response. The eye roll (paired with some clarifying words) said, “Yes, I know, we have to do it. But is it really helpful? Is it really a good use of my time?” Strategic planning is a systematic approach toContinue reading “What are alternatives to traditional strategic planning?”
Should museums deaccession art to pay staff?
This post comes out of a conversation between Rebecca Shulman and Jackie Delamatre. You can see other Museum Questions blog posts by Jackie Delamatre here and here. Proceeds from the sale of non-living collections are to be used consistent with the established standards of the museum’s discipline, but in no event shall they be usedContinue reading “Should museums deaccession art to pay staff?”
How do we change a museum’s relationship with its building? Interview with Steven Snyder
Dr. Steven Snyder is the President & CEO for the Fleet Science Center in San Diego, CA. Since taking on the role in 2013, Steve has redefined the Fleet’s role, taking it from a science center in Balboa Park to a community organization dedicated to helping all San Diegans achieve their place in our sharedContinue reading “How do we change a museum’s relationship with its building? Interview with Steven Snyder”
Museum Questions 